The seven folders of papers consist primarily of letters that accompanied donations for the relief of the victims of the fire (December 30, 1802 to June 21, 1803). A record book from 1803 lists amounts paid and to whom, an undated alphabetic list gives the names of victims, the amount claimed as loss, the amount paid and the dates paid (1803-1809).

Historical Note

In the early morning hours of December 26, 1802, a fire broke out in the New Hampshire Bank building in Portsmouth, NH. A large portion of the town burned, with 114 buildings lost to the flames and damages estimated at $200,000. Five men, Nathaniel Adams, John Goddard, Daniel Humphreys, John Langdon and James Sheafe, were appointed a committee to receive and distribute donations for relief. Funds were appropriated in Washington, DC and donations were sent from many parts of the country, including Philadelphia, Trenton, NJ, and Savannah, Ga. Altogether, the committee received and distributed more than $45,000.

Author John Lillard will present a talk about his new book "Playing War: Wargaming and U.S. Navy Preparations for World War II". The book explores wargaming at the Naval War College during the 20s and 30s, and how it helped the Navy prepare for the war against Japan.

Historic Portsmouth Chamber Music Series presents Jose Lezcano with String Ensemble. Guitarist Jose Lezcano, violinist Jennifer Elowitch, and members of the Portland Chamber Music Festival team up to play a program of music for guitar and strings. The program, "Mediterranean Muses & Iberian Images" includes works by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (his sunny and lyrical masterpiece, the Guitar Quintet), Luigi Boccherini (the exciting Fandango from his Quintet in D minor for guitar and strings), and a virtuoso Sonata Concertante for guitar and violin by Paganini. Lezcano will also present one of his compositions for guitar and strings, Mojito y Habano in a premiere performance.

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